Fish filleting machine



Aug. 9, 1949. c. M. sAvRDAv 2,478,713

' FISH FILLETING MACHINE Filed June 14, 1944 5 lsheets-'sheet 1 BY fm# ATTORNEY Aug- 9, l949- c. M. sAvRDA FISH FILLETING MACHINE Filed June 14, 1944 A 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTQR v CHA/15x14 SAV/90A ATTORNEY Aug- 9, 1949- c. M. sAvRDA 2,478,713

FI SH FILLETING MACHINE Filed June 14, 1944 5 Sheets-Shet 5 IN V EN TOR. CHARL Es M .SA VRD/s A T TOR/VE )f Aug. 9, 1949. c. M. sAvRDA 2,478,713

FISH FILLETING MACHINE Filed June 14, 1944 5 Sheets-Shea?I 4 IN V EN TOR.

A 7" TORNEX Aug. 9, 1949. c. M. sAvRDA FISH FILLETING MACHINE Filed June 14, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 mi@ f 1 y M. KM m. MNH Vw m@ d .MMHHNHWH MNHN@ W/ Patented Aug. 9, 1949 UNITED s TATEs PATENT 1orfri :l.=:

Charles .M Savrda, Bay Shore, .N. Y., assigner,

`by mesne assignments, to Fish Machinery Cor- ;poration, Boston, Mass., a corporation of Dlapplcfion June 14, 1944, 'Serial N0. 540,323

10 Claims. (Cl. 17-4) This invention relates toiilleting machines, and more particularly to means for insuring the remoya] nf the .skeieton of a dish and to prevent I'distortion of the pusheringers of :a feeding conveyer which feeds 'and maintains the sh in contact with the ribbing knives.

As described in United States 'Patent 2,149,021, after aziish, leading and back downward, has 4been slit its entire length .upwardly through the .back thereof almost to the 'backbone and the belly side slit by parallel incisions, each iillet remains attached to the backbone of :the fish along its lateral sides by a small ribbon of meat. The yfillets fare further 4attached to the ribs of the sh.

In this condition, the :Fish is propelled with sui- U As also shown in Patent 2,149,021, there is provided means for conveying and vsimultaneously holding the sh down on the ribbing knivesV so that the liets can be removed from the ribs. This means, called va. ribbing conveyer, comprises a pair of endless chains having a series of supporting plates secured thereto in spaced relationship. Each supporting plat-e is secured at approximately the middle thereof to the chains and journals a lever comprising an arm which,

when carried along the lower ight of the chains, faces downwardly and rearwardly, terminating along its under side in a s-eries of teeth. The other arm extends through the supporting plate so as to project above the chains. are arranged in staggered relationship with each other and are laterally oiset so that they can pass on either side of the spikes extending toward the belly of the fish from its backbone.

United States Patent 2,397,158 discloses a ribbing conveyer comprising a chain secured at the ends of blocks whereby a minimum throw is im- The levers part-cd to each block as it passes around the sprockets in travelling from the upper to the lower flights, and vice versa. The blocks are also so constructed that when in a horizontal plane the adjacent blocks cooperate with each other to form a substantially rigid structure. Each of the blocks is provided with a pair of oppcsitely disposed and laterally spaced supports,

:A .holder is rotatably 'mounted on the -inner surface 4of each support. .Each holder, which --is in :the lform of -a lever, carries at the upper 4end thereof -a cam Yroller which .is adapted to cooperate with cams to raise and :lower the holder. At the other end, each holder AVis .provided with -a pusher finger having teeth .so shaped that each :pair of 4fingers will engage the Jsh on opopsite sides of the backbone with a forward thrust.

In each of .the aforementioned ribbing conveyers, frequently at ths 'discharge end the push- -er fingers do not disengage themselves 'from the skeleton, whereby the skeleton adheres thereto even when the ribbing conveyer passes from the lower to the uppcrflig-ht. YFrequently also, the pusher fingers are deformed and distorted by the wedging action of the skeleton or a .portion thereof. In some instances, the ngers arebent inwardly toward eachother1 with the result that the fingers will thereafter not properly engage the sh .forthe feeding thereof over the ribbing knives. Y

An-obj ect of this inventionnis to provide means Yadjacent the discharge end of a ribbing conveyer means adjacent the discharge end `of the ribbing conveyer which maintains the'pusher fingers in proper spaced. relationship with respect to each other and thereby prevents deformation and distortion thereof.

A specic object of this invention is to provide stripper means to disengage the skeleton from the pusher fingers, said stripper means being so constructed asto maintain the fingers in proper laterally spaced relationship with respect to each other. Y y Y A further specific object of this invention is to provide means to remove 'any portion of the sh (skeleton, tail, bones, etc.) which has not been removed from the pusher fingers bythe stripper means.

Other objects will become apparent hereinafter.

The above objects are accomplished, in general, by providing adjacent the discharge end of the ribbing conveyer a stripper having means adapted to Aengage and push downwardly the veyed by the ribbing conveyer to the discharge end thereof. The stripper is also so constructed that the sides thereof serve to guide and maintain the pusher fingers in proper laterally spaced position relative to each other not only during the period when it is effective to remove the skeleton but preferably also until the ribbing conveyer passes around the sprocket during the travel of the ribbing conveyer from the lower operative flight to the upper inoperative ight. The stripper is provided with a nose substantially triangular in cross-section and inclined downwardly so that it will gradually pass between the pusher fingers as the latter are conveyed thereto and present them in proper position to the portion of the stripper which maintains the fingers in properly spaced lateral position. The stripper, by maintaining the ngers in lateral spaced relationship, also prevents the fingers from being forced inwardly toward each other. Means are also provided which cooperate with the stripper and the pusher fingers to prevent the pusher fingers from being forced outwardly and away from each other. Means are also provided to prevent the distortion of the pusher fingers as the conveyer begins its upper iiight. Sometimes, even though the skeleton is removed, a bone or portion of the tail adheres to or becomes wedged in the pusher fingers. Means, such as a plurality of spaced toothed members, are provided to remove any foreign material adhering to the pusher fingers. Means are also provided to clear the toothed members of any material which adheres thereto. y

The details of the invention will become apparent from the drawings, wherein an illustrative embodiment of the invention is set forth and wherein: c,

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of an apparatus including a ribbing conveyer and ribbing knives together with the stripper and appurtenant devices;

Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the discharge end of the apparatus shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the forward portion of the stripper;

Figure 6 is a section taken on the line 8-6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a section taken on the line '1 -I of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a section taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 5;

Figure 9 is a section taken on the line 9 9 of Figure 2;

Figure 10 is a top plan view of the portion of the stripper adjacent the top flight;

Figure 11 is a section taken on the line II--II of Figure 2;

Figure 12 is a section taken on the line I2-I2 of Figure 11; and

Figure 13 is a perspective view of the means for removing any foreign material adhering to the toothed members.

For convenience, this invention will be described in connection with the ribbing conveyer shown and described in United States Patent 2,397,158. Since the ribbing conveyer is completely described in said patent, only so much thereof will herein be described as is necessary for an understanding of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals designate like parts, the reference numeral IIJ designates one (the other not being shown) of a pair of rotary belly-cutting knives which are adapted to make incisions in the belly side of a fish which is fed thereto, tail leading and back downward. The sh, prior to being incised by the rotary belly knives I0, has been slit through its entire length upwardly through the back almost to the back bone by any appropriate mechanism, such as that, for example, disclosed in United States Patent 2,149,- 021. During the belly-slitting operation, the fish is supported by a pair of rotary guide discs I2 which engage the fish at the backbone thereof. The rotary knives I8 and the rotary discs I2 are mounted on shafts I4 and I6 respectively, which are suitably carried on the frame and driven by a suitable means (not shown) to provide said rotary knives ID and rotary discs I2 with the desired peripheral speed.

'Ihe knives IU and the discs I2 are driven at the desired high rate of speed whereby the fish is caused to be fed therebetween and projected onto a pair of ribbing knives I8 appropriately positioned on supports carried by the frame. A deflector (not shown) aids in directing and positioning the fish on the ribbing knives I8 as it leaves the rotary knives I0 and rotary discs I2. The deflector is preferably of the type shown in United States Patent 2,424,057.

The ribbing knives I8 are preferably of the form, shape and construction shown in Figure 3 of United States Patent 2,149,021 and in United States Patent 2,179,821, although it is apparent that other ribbing knives may be used.

Disposed above the ribbing knives I8 is a pair of spaced shafts 32 and 34 which are mounted in bearings carried by the frame (not shown). The forward shaft 32 carries a sprocket 36, and the rear shaft 34 carries a sprocket 38. An endless chain 40 passes around the sprockets 35 and 38. The shaft 34 is driven in any convenient manner from a suitable source of power (not shown).

Blocks, generally designated by the reference numeral 42, are arranged in series and are secured at spaced intervals to the chain 4I), as described in United States Patent 2,397,158. Each block carries a pair of laterally spaced pusher fingers, generally designated by the reference numeral 44, which are designed to enter the incisions on the belly side and engage the fish so that, as the chain travels through its lower flight, the pusher fingers will urge the fish downwardly and feed it over the ribbing knives I8. Each block 42 comprises a pair of substantially parallel, spaced, downwardly depending supports 46 secured together by a brace 48. Each pusher finger 44 is secured to a holder 50. Each holder 50 is in the form of a lever having a horizontal arm 58 and an upwardly curved arm 60. Each pusher finger holder 50 is rotatably mounted on a stud 62. It is to be noted that each pusher finger holder is mounted adjacent the inner surface of the adjacent support 46. In a hole adjacent the top end of the curved arm 60 of the pusher holder 50, there is rigidly secured one end of a stud shaft 63. This stud shaft extends outwardly, and adjacent its free end there is rotatably mounted a cam roller 68. Due to the manner in which the pusher finger holder 50 is mounted on its support 46, it is urged by gravity to move in a downward direction when the block is in a horizontal position.

Adjacent the feed end of the feed conveyor, there is provided a cam 78 which is adapted to ce* operate with the cam rollers .6.8 as the pusher nsers are brought from the upper (inoperative) flight posit-ion to the lower (operative) flight no sition. At the discharge end, there is also provided a cam 12 which is adapted to cooperate with the cam rollers v88 as the conveyor .48 passes around the sprocket wheel 38 in travelling from the lower flight to the upper flight.

The ,cam 12 vis carried on a casting (not shown) mounted in the machine. The casting is 'loro vided with a pair of arms 88 and 8| for reasons which will become apparent hereinafter.

The mechanism thus far specifically described is fully shown and .described in United States Patent 2,397,158.

Adjacent the discharge end of the ribbing conveyer there is provided a stripper, generally desigmated by the reference numeral 82. As is disclosed in 'Figure 2, the stripper is positioned in.- termediate the ribbing knives i8 and is provided at the bottom thereof with a rib 84 which, as shown in Figure 3, extends below the bottom of the pusher fingers 44 and serves to urge the skeleton passing thereunder downwardly. The stripper 82 is also formed with a Vrail 8,8 which is adapted to extend between each pair of pusher fingers 4.4 as the latter are conveyed thereover. The pusher fingers 44 slide over the rail 88, or sutlicient clearance therebetween is provided to permit the pusher fingers .4.4 to pass thereover, In either case, the rail 86 prevents said fingers from moving toward each other beyond the limit of the width of the rail 88 and thus maintains the pusher fingers in proper laterally spaced relationship.

I-n order that the pusher lingers 44 be properly spaced so that they can pass over the rail 88, the stripper 82 is provided with a separating nose 88 which, as shown in Figure 5, is substantially tri angular in cross-section and is provided with a rounded front edge 98. The separating nose 88 extends upwardly from the front end of the rail 85 and is angularly disposed with respect to both the rib 84 and the rail 86. In the preferred form, the (interior) angleformed between the rail 88 and the separating nose 88 is obtuse. It is to be noted that the rail 86 at its forward end merges into the rear side of the nose 88 opposed thereto.

The nose 88 is made of a height so that the pusher fingers 44 will ride thereover before the pusher fingers begin to ride over the rail 88. In lsome instances, it is advantageous to have the height of the nose such that it will cooperate with the pusher finger holders 58. A rib 92 disposed between the rear of the nose 88 and the top of the rail 86 serves to reinforce the nose`88, and particularly that portion thereof which extends upwardly beyond the rail 86.

The rail 86 is provided with a rearwardly extending rib 94 which is secured on the arm 88 in any appropriate manner and whereby the stripper 82 is mounted in place.

The stripper 82 is preferably of such a length that the rib 84 thereof will engage the skeleton fed by the pusher lingers 44 before the pusher fingers 44 begin their travel around the sprocket 38, whereby, when the pusher ngers begin their travel around the sprocket, they will be effectively disengaged from the skeleton. The rail 88 of the stripper is of Such dimensions that it will be engaged by the pusher fingers 44 while the latter are in operative engagement with the skeleton and while the chain 40 is still in its horizontal 6 ishtrand :also for a substantial distance after the fingers M have Vbeen :released from the :skeleton and the chain 40 has begun its travel around the sprocket 38.

lin order to prevent movement of the pusher fingers 44 toward each other during the entire path of travel around the .sprocket 38, the rail 8.8 is provided with .an extension 8l. 'I'he rail ,8J is adapted to extend between the pusher `lingers 44 and prevent said fingers from moving toward each other. As ,shown in Figure 2, the rail 81 is curved so that the pusher lingers 44 will be maintained in properly spaced lateral position during their entire :travel around the sprocket 38 and indeed until the 88 has passed over the sprocket .38 and after it has begun its upper horizontal flight.

The rail 8l is formed integral with a casting d8, which is also provided with a pair of spaced ribs se. The casting 88 is provided a pad teit, to which is secured the arm 8l in any appropriate manner. The rail 8l is preferably made integral with the rail 88 of the stripper, and the entire structure is substantially horse-.shoe in shape.

l'n order to prevent the pusher lingers 44 from moving away from each other during at least the period when they are riding over the rail 88 of the stripper 82, .the latter is positioned intermediate a pair .of guides |18. Each guide iii) comprises a vertical member having .at the top thereof a flange H2 extending outwardly therefrom. Each guide ||8 is mounted in position by means of an angle H4, which has one leg thereof secured to an upright H8 of the machine and the other leg secured to the flange I2. The forward end of each guide H8 is tapered so that the entrance formed by the guides converges inwardly, The forward edge H5 of each guide H8 islgangularly disposed with respect to the flange Each guide H8 has secured to the flange H2 Aadiacent the rear end thereof a supplemental guide |28 which is adapted to cooperate with the pusher fingers 44 as they begin their travel around the sprocket 38.

To prevent the pusher fingers 44 from moving outwardly as the chain 48 passes over the sprocket 38 and approaches the upper flight, the rail 81 is positioned intermediate a pair of guides |24. As shown in Figure l0, each guide |24 is secured to an arm |28 which is secured on the casting e8 by means of bolts |28. It is to be noted that each guide |24 is provided with an outwardly flared end |38.

The guides |24 also serve to maintain the pusher fingers 44 in proper laterally spaced rela tionship when for some reason it becomes necessary to reverse the direction of travel of the chain. In this case, the flared ends |38 serve to lead and guide the pusher fingers in proper position onto the rail 87.

Frequently, even though the skeleton has been effectively disengaged from the pusher fingers 44, a bone, a portion of the tail or some other foreign matter remains lodged between or adheres to some part of the pusher ngers 44. If such foreign matter is not removed, effective and efficient operation of the ribbing conveyor is not obtained. Thus, the instant invention contemplates means to eiectively remove any such foreign matter which may adhere to the pusher fingers. In the form shown, such results are secured by a plu rallty of rotating circular toothed members |48. These toothed members |453 are secured onto a shaft |412 which is rotatably mounted in a journal bearing |44 carried on a bracket IEB. The bracket |50 is secured onto the arm 8E] in any appropriate manner, such as by bolts |52. The circular toothed members |40 are spaced from each other by means of collars |54 positioned on the shaft |42. A cap nut |56 secured on the end of the shaft |42 and a collar |58 positioned adjacent the journal bearing |44 secure the spacing collars |54 in position. The shaft |42 at the other end is provided with a pulley |6 which is driven by a belt actuated from any suitable source of power (not shown).

In the form shown, four toothed members |4|l are shown, it, of course, being understood that a greater or lesser number may be used. In the form shown in Figures 2 and 11, it will be noted that the rib S4 extends between the two central circular toothed members |40 and that the rail 8S is of a shape to permit the toothed members to effect their desired function. The outer toothed members |40 are spaced from the central toothed members sufficiently to permit the respective pusher fingers 46 to pass therethrough. In normal operation, the circular toothed members lli are driven in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the pusher nngers cooperating therewith. Thus, any foreign matter which is carried by the pusher nngers 44 is removed by the circular toothed members |40. Sometimes the foreign matter is cut or severed by the teeth of the toothed members |49 in the removal thereof.

To prevent accumulation of foreign matter removed from the pusher fingers 44 on the circular toothed members |40, there is provided a clearer, which is generally designated by the reference numeral |19. As shown in Figure 13, the clearer i'ifl is provided with a pair of spaced supporting members |12. Bolts extending through holes VEB secure the clearer to the frame of the machine.

Each of the supporting members |12 is provided at the bottom thereof with an integral, upwardly inclined and forwarding extending clearing member |80 which is adapted to extend on the ex terior surface of the outer toothed members |40. Each member |80 is formed at its forward end with an inwardly extending nange |8| which terminates in close proximity to the toothed member adjacent thereto. Intermediate the members |86, there is provided a plurality of upwardly inclined and forwardly extending clearer elements |82 which are secured at the rear thereof to the cross-piece |84 carried by the side members |12. Each of the clearer elements |82 is adapted to extend in the space between two adjacent circular toothed members and is provided with a nange |58, each end of which is in close proximity or indeed in scraping relationship with the toothed member adjacent thereto. In position, the top edges of the clearing elements I 8&3 and |82 lie in a horizontal plane, and the forward corners thereof in close proximity to the collars |54.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that the instant invention provides an effective apparatus for positively permitting the pusher nngers to disengage themselves from the skeleton and maintaining the pusher fingers in proper laterally spaced relationship not only during the period when the pusher nngers are being disengaged from the skeleton, but also throughout their entire travel around the sprocket in passing from the lower to the upper night. Additionally, the apparatus prevents distortion of the pusher fingers and provides means to remove any foreign material which might adhere thereto and interfere with enicient operation.

Since it is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in the above description without departing from the nature or 'spirit thereof, this invention is not restricted thereto except as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim: a

1. In a fish nlleting apparatus having a pair of spaced ribbing knives and a ribbing conveyer cooperating with said ribbing knives, said ribbing conveyer comprising an endless chain, a sprocket at the discharge end to direct said chain in traveling from a horizontal lower to a horizontal 'upper night and a plurality of pusher fingers carried by said chain, said pusher fingers being ar.- ranged in series in two laterally spaced rows to engage the spikes of the nsh extending from the belly to the backbone and feed said nsh over said ribbing knives, the combination of a stripper positioned adjacent the discharge end of the ribbing conveyer and centrally of the ribbing knives to engage and urge downwardly the skeleton of a nsh fed therebeneath by said ribbing conveyer.

2. In a nsh nlleting apparatus having a pair of spaced ribbing knives and a ribbing conveyer cooperating with said ribbing knives, said ribbing conveyer comprising an endless chain, a sprocket at the discharge end to4 direct said chain in traveling from a horizontal lower to a horizontal upper night and a plurality of pusher fingers carried by said chain, said pusher nngers being arranged in series in two laterally spaced rows to engage the spikes of the nsh extending from the belly to the backbone and feed said fish over said ribbing knives, the combination of a stripper positioned adjacent the discharge end of the ribbing conveyer and centrally of the ribbing knives to engage and urge downwardly the skeleton of a nsh fed therebeneath by said ribbing conveyer, said stripper having means to limit the inward lateral movement of the pusher nngers during travel over said stripper.

3. In a nsh nlleting apparatus having a pair of spaced ribbing knives and a ribbing conveyer cooperating with said ribbing knives, said ribbing conveyer comprising an endless chain, a sprocket at the discharge end to direct said chain in traveling from a horizontal lower to a horizontal upper night and a plurality of pusher fingers carried by said chain, said pusher fingers being arranged in series in two laterally spaced rows to engage the spikes of the nsh extending from the belly to the backbone and feed said nsh over said ribbing knives, the combination of a stripper positioned adjacent the discharge end of the ribbing conveyer and centrally of the ribbing knives to engage and urge downwardly the skeleton of a nsh fed therebeneath by said ribbing conveyer, said stripper having a rail which extends between and over which the pusher nngers are conveyed, said rail limiting the inward lateral movement of the respective pusher nngers passing thereover.

4. In a nsh nlleting apparatus having a pair of spaced ribbing knives and a ribbing conveyer cooperating with said ribbing knives, said ribbing conveyer comprising an endless chain, a sprocket at the discharge end to direct said chain in traveling from a horizontal lower to a horizontal upper night and a plurality of pusher fingers carried by said chain, said pusher nngers being arranged in series in two laterally spaced rows to engage the spikes of the nsh extending from the belly to the backbone and feed said nsh over said 9 ribbing knives, the combination of a stripper positioned adjacent the discharge end of the ribbing conveyer and centrally of the ribbing knives to engage and urge downwardly the skeleton of a nsh fed therebeneath by said ribbing conveyer, said stripper having a rail which extends between and over which the pusher nngers are conveyed, said rail limiting the inward lateral movement of the respective pusher ngers passing thereover, said stripper having a separating nose to laterally space the vpusher nngers in advance of said rail.

5. In a nsh nlleting apparatus having a pair of spaced ribbing knives and a ribbing conveyer cooperating with said ribbing knives, said ribbing conveyer comprising an endless chain, a sprocket at the discharge end to direct said chain in traveling from a horizontal lower to a horizontal upper night and a plurality of pusher ngers carried by said chain, said pusher lingers being arranged in series in two laterally spaced rows to engage the spikes of the nsh extending from the belly to the backbone and feed said sh over said ribbing knives, the -combination of a stripper positioned adjacent the discharge end of the ribbing conveyer and centrally of the ribbing knives to engage and urge downwardly the skeleton of a nsh fed therebeneath by said ribbing conveyer, said stripper having a rail which extends between and over which the pusher nngers are conveyed, said rail limiting the inward lateral movement of the respective pusher fingers passing thereover, said stripper having an upwardly extending inclined nose to separate the pusher nngers engaged thereby and guide them onto said rail. a

6. In a nsh'nlleting apparatus having a pau' of spaced ribbing knives and a ribbing conveyor cooperating with said ribbing knives, said ribbing conveyor comprising an endless chain, a sprocket at the discharge end to direct said chain in traveling from a horizontal lower to a horizontal upper night and a plurality of pusher nngers oarried by said chain, said pusher nngers being arranged in series in two laterally spaced rows tol engage the spikes of the nsh extending from the belly to the backbone and feed said nsh over said ribbing knives, the combination of astripper positioned adjacent the discharge end of the ribbing conveyer and centrally of the ribbing knives to engage and urge downwardly the skeleton of a fish fed therebeneath by said ribbing conveyer, said stripper having a rail which extends between and over which the pusher nngers are conveyed, said rail limiting the inward lateral movement of the respectiveV pusher iingers passing thereover, and means on each side of said rail to inhibit outward lateral movement of the Vpusher fingers as they pass over said rail.

7. In a nsh nlleting apparatus having a pair of spaced ribbing knives and ya ribbing conveyer cooperating with said ribbing knives, said ribbing conveyer comprising an endless chain, a sprocket at the discharge end to direct said chain in traveling from a. horizontal lower to a horizontal upper night and a plurality of pusher nngers carried by said chain, said pusher nngers being arranged in series in two laterally spaced rows to engage the spikes of the fish extending from the belly to the backbone and feed said nsh over said ribbing knives, the combination of a stripper positioned adjacent the discharge end of the ribbing conveyer and centrally of the ribbing knives 10 to engage and urge downwardly the skeleton of a nsh fed therebeneath by said ribbing conveyer, said stripper having a rail which extends between and over which the pusher nngers are conveyed, said rail limiting the inward lateral movement of the respective pusher nngers passing thereover, said rail extending throughout the path of travel of the pusher nngers from' the lower horizontal flight to the upper horizontal night.

8. In a fish nlleting apparatus having a pair of spaced ribbing knives and a ribbing conveyer cooperating with said ribbing knives, said ribbing conveyer comprising an endless chain, a sprocket at the discharge end to direct said chain in traveling from a horizontal lower toa horizontal upper night and a plurality of pusher nngers carried by said chain, said pusher fingers being arranged n series in two laterally spaced rows to engage the spikes of the nsh extending from the belly to the backbone and feed said nsh over said ribbing knives, the combination of a plurality of rotary circular toothed members positioned adjacent the discharge end of the ribbing conveyer and in the path of travel of said pusher fingers to remove foreign matter adhering to said pusher lingers.

9. In a fish nlleting apparatus having a pair of spaced ribbing knives and a ribbing conveyer cooperating with said ribbing knives, said ribbing conveyer comprising an endless chain, a sprocket at the discharge end to direct said chain in traveling from a horizontal lower to a horizontal upper night and a plurality of pusher nngers carried by said chain, said pusher fingers being arranged in series in two laterally spaced rows to engage the spikes of the nsh extending from the belly to the backbone and feed said nsh over said ribbing knives, the combination of a plurality of spaced rotary circular toothed members positioned adjacent the discharge end of the ribbing conveyer and in the path of travel of said pusher nngers so that each pusher finger passes between two adjacent toothed members.

10. In a nsh nlleting apparatus having a pair of spaced ribbing knives and a ribbing conveyer cooperating with said ribbing knives, said ribbing conveyer comprising an endless chain, a sprocket at the discharge end todirect said chain in traveling from a horizontal lower to a horizontal upper night and a plurality of pusher fingers carried by said chain, said pusher nngers being arranged in series in two laterally spaced rows to engage the spikes of the nsh extending from the belly to the backbone and feed said nsh over said ribbing knives, the combination of a plurality of spaced rotary circular toothed members positioned adjacent the discharge end of the ribbing conveyer and in the path of travel of said pusher nngers so that each pusher nnger passes between two adjacent toothed members, and means to remove any foreign matter adhering to said toothed members.

CHARLES M. SAVRDA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the nle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,149,021 Hunt Feb. 28, 1939 2,364,533 Jackson Dec. 5, 1944 

